We will be flying to Bonaire via Continental Airlines on March 15, 2008. We will land in Houston at 8:10 pm and red eye it to Bonaire, arriving at 4:51 a.m. (8th Trip! Woo Hoo!) This will leave us with 3.5 fun filled hours in Houston TX airport. Our questions are:

Does anyone know if we need to clear customs in Houston, changes terminal, miles of walking, torture, beatings, etc.

Also, is there a decent place for dinner in Houston's international terminal around 8:00 pm?

Thanks guys!!!!

I've flown to BON on Continental the last two years. I fly from Sacramento but have had no problems, and I have almost exactly the same layover as you. As you are flying internationally, you will have cleared customs at your departure airport. You will have to clear US customs in Houston on the way home. For a huge international airport, Houston seems to shut down pretty early. There is a Cajun style bar/restaurant near the departure gate that had decent, but not great, food. FWIW you can buy at the duty free stores and it will be delivered to you at the gate as you board. You have to present a boarding pass to make the purchase.

Thanks Grunt!!! Great information. We are somewhat horrified by the stories, confirmed by you, that the airport amenities shut down so early. We love Cajun and we will certainly check that out.

We are flying out of Boston and will be flying from Bonaire to Newark on the way home.

Its been a couple of years, but I think the restaurants on the international terminal closed at 9:00.

I flew the Continental red eye from Houston in October ... there is indeed Pappadeaux restaurant upstairs right near the gate ... and it did close at 9p. If you go back toward the area where you exited the train and escalator, there was a food court that had great margaritas at pappacitos ... as well as a couple of other restaurants, but I believe those closed at 9p as well.

Yes, yes, do Pappadeaux for dinner. We did two weeks ago killing time from our 7:00 pm arrival until are red -eye departure. It was great. We had a close call upon our return. We decided to book a close connection in Houston. Arrive from Bonaire with only 1 hour 12 minutes to get to next flight. Going both flights were at the same are Gate E. Returning we had to fly/run from one end of the airport to the other, and made it for final boarding. Would we do it again to be home early Saturday. You bet.

We've been thinking about flying into Houston early, renting a car, spending the day in the Houston area, and then returning that evening to fly out on the late Continental flight. Does anyone know of any problems with this plan? Thanks.

Never flown Continental Houston to Bonaire. Is this a large jet and what time does it land in Bonaire?

Happy Diver, Go to the Houston Space Center, and check out the Test pool they have for NASA! Well worth the drive. They have a 100yd X 100yd pool, with a space shuttle 60ffw. The astronauts practice what they are going to do in space in that pool for months before they go. Divers film them and they decide the way to make the moves for a mission. It is a few miles south of town, but if your going to have a full day it is worth it... Ron

(Message edited by ronindiana on February 28, 2008)

Terry, The Continental plane is a large jet and it leaves Houston at 11:30pm and arrives Bonaire at 5:30am. Check the Continental website for more information on the plane and the times. The departure time from Houston doesn't change but the arrival time does due to daylight savings. Normally Bonaire is 2 hours ahead of Houston but during daylight savings it is only one hour ahead. Bonaire does not have daylight savings time. Hope this helps you some. We like the Continental flight but then we are only 1 1/2 hours from Bush Intercontinental Airport.
Andy